Teenage debutant Pat Cummins celebrated a “brilliant day” after Australia sent South Africa tumbling to 266 all out on the first day of the second and final Test at the Wanderers on Thursday. Cummins only took one wicket but generated impressive pace after becoming the second youngest Australian to play Test cricket. “It was pretty exciting,” said Cummins of a day when Australia played themselves into contention for a win which would earn them a share of the series following an eight-wicket defeat in the first Test in Cape Town. Cummins, 18, who said being handed his baggy green cap by Australian great Ricky Ponting was “really special,” paid tribute to his fellow bowlers. “We bowled in good partnerships. Mitchell Johnson got some swing and I could concentrate on being aggressive while Siddy (Peter Siddle) got in their face a bit and it worked,” he said.
South Africa lost their last six wickets for 25 runs on what looked a good batting pitch, although South African batsman Jacques Kallis said there was some life in the surface which the home team’s fast bowlers hoped to exploit. A depleted Australian bowling attack could not have hoped for a better day. Fast bowler Ryan Harris could not play because of a back injury while all-rounder Shane Watson pulled up with a hamstring injury five balls into his fourth over. He was off the field for more than two hours. Kallis, AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince all made half-centuries for the host nation but failed to kick on, while South Africa’s two best partnerships ended with both partners out in quick succession.
Kallis and Hashim Amla put on 80 for the third wicket before Kallis, who made a stroke-filled 54 off 41 balls, prodded a catch to midwicket. He was followed soon afterwards by Amla, who played a loose drive against Pat Cummins to be caught at second slip after a patient innings of 19.
De Villiers and Prince added 112 for the fifth wicket before Prince’s dismissal for 50, caught at mid-on off a poor shot against Nathan Lyon, sparked South Africa’s collapse soon after tea.
